General Cycling Discussion - Sanwa?

Can anyone tell me anything about Sanwa bikes?

There's a road bike at a rummage sale nearby for $10, obviously needs a lot of work. I'm debating buying it. Considerations are:

1. I want to learn to do bike repairs, without ripping up my good bike

2. ...but no point in trying to repair a bike I can't get parts for.

3. 90% chance it will just sit in the garage while I try to find time to do something with it anyway.

It's a 7-speed road-type steel bike with brazed joints (if that's what it's called) weird little half-fenders, and a Shimano derailleur.
Any ideas or comments?

Just another cheap, department store bike. May be worth $20, if it were in good shape. Those half-fenders are a dead giveaway as to being cheap, heavy, and junky. Sure, you can probably still find a freewheel to fit it, but everything else is old, cheap, and obsolete, and didn't work too well even when new. This bike cost about $150 when new, in a day when sears bikes started at $175. Repair it? Well, you can probably find something that fits, but that's about all.
Offer them $5-that's all it's worth.

Thanks for the knowledge, Alex!

I actually went back this afternoon, pumped up the tires and test-rode it. It was too scary for me. :D Possibly just because the tires were bad, or because I never rode a road bike or a bike with drop bars before, but it felt very wobbly and unbalanced. So, the search goes on.

Originally posted by Inkwolf
... the search goes on.
Inkwolf, there are many rocks on the beach, and also a few gems.

Amongst a bunch of Huffys and such at a thrift shop, I found an old Mongoose (from the days when Mongoose was not sold in department stores, but bike shops,) with the bike shop sticker still intact (some California shop.) $25.

Nothing wrong with this bike whatsoever. Hardly any needed adjustments. Bought it for my 6 year-old for when she got big enough.

Well, she rode it last weekend, no problem, even though it's still too big for her at 7 years old. She mastered the hand brakes and grip shifters instantly (but coming to a complete stop seems to be a case of Eval Knievel (sp?) "leaping off before dropping the bike" type of stop. ;) )

Inkwolf:

Suggestion> start looking for a frame/old bike to build a fixedgear bike out of. I have already started looking for it as a winter project.

Don't let my wife know she thinks 6 bikes are enough in a 2 bedroom townhouse.....silly girl.:rolleyes:

Inkwolf - the proof is in the riding!
I say even if it is an old x-mart of some sort, if it rides well and seems in good shape, buy it. Back in the day, I bought a used 10 speed (a TopRider!!) and rode it occasionally for more than 10 years, just changing brake pads and adjusting stuff now and then.
On the yard sale circuit, I passed on a very nice looking top of the line, but 20 years old Free Spirit for $40 (rode ok) one weekend, and found the Bianchi I bought the next weekend for $35. I've put 2 tubes in it and have ridden it 3 or 4 times a week for the last month.
The drop bars take a bit to get used to!! You might want to try a few rides on someone else's to get accustomed to them. My first ride on the Bianchi was very wobbly, but after I lowered the seat and "refreshed" my drop bar memories, it was great!!